tag:theconversation.com,2011:/us/topics/kids-sport-29196/articleskids sport – The Conversation2024-02-16T01:03:35Ztag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2221412024-02-16T01:03:35Z2024-02-16T01:03:35ZIs it broken? A strain or sprain? How to spot a serious injury now school and sport are back<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/573664/original/file-20240206-17-zgrilp.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=8%2C26%2C5905%2C3910&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/side-view-portrait-focused-adult-man-1957830496">Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Kids are back at school, playgrounds, sport and general mucking around. This can lead to two things: happy children and injuries. </p>
<p>Up to <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3298088/">50% of boys and 40% of girls</a> will break a bone during childhood and adolescence. Around <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/getmedia/25a1c441-4946-4e6d-8d34-12c4f552aada/aihw-injcat-217.pdf?v=20230605182220&inline=true">50,000 children and young people</a> are hospitalised due to fractures in Australia each year and the rates of fractures in children <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29860609/">appear to be increasing</a>. </p>
<p>But it is not just broken bones that can hamper your children’s Olympic dreams – or just disrupt their play. What are the differences between strains, sprains and fractures? And how can you identify and manage these injuries? </p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/what-makes-kids-want-to-drop-out-of-sport-and-how-should-parents-respond-195115">What makes kids want to drop out of sport, and how should parents respond?</a>
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<h2>Different doesn’t mean better or worse</h2>
<p>Sprains, strains and fractures are all different types of injuries – and the type doesn’t necessarily indicate the severity. </p>
<p>Sprains are injuries to ligaments and joints. So even a complete anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture (when one of the ligaments of the knee is torn through) is technically a sprain. </p>
<p>Strains are injuries to the muscle. So whether you just pull the muscle (where the muscle is inflamed but not torn) or cause a bad tear, it is referred to as a muscle strain. </p>
<p>Finally, a fracture means any injury to bone. In children, whose bones are more bendy, this can vary from a small crack in the bone (sometimes called a buckle or <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513279/#:%7E:text=Pathophysiology-,A%20greenstick%20fracture%20is%20a%20partial%20thickness%20fracture%20where%20only,radius%2C%20humerus%2C%20and%20clavicle.">Greenstick fracture</a>) to a completely broken bone. </p>
<h2>Kids are at increased risk</h2>
<p>Children seem to be at a relatively high risk of breaking a bone (particularly of their forearm) as their bones are rapidly lengthening due to growth, and with that there is a <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34723233/">reduction in the overall bone strength</a>.</p>
<p>ACL ruptures are also common in children, with the highest rise in ruptures among 5–14-year-old females in Australia, <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35345847/">increasing by 10.4% from 1998 to 2018</a>.</p>
<p>Children’s formal <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/articles/swimming-and-soccer-most-popular-sports-children">sporting commitments</a> may have a role to play in why <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28051335/">injury rates are increasing</a>. Some kids are not getting so much as a single physical recovery day per week and are training <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6805065/">more than elite athletes</a> while their bodies are still lanky, uncoordinated and developing. We also see <a href="https://josr-online.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13018-021-02707-9">fractures from trampoline play</a>, skateboarding, and extreme sports such as BMX riding. </p>
<p>In addition to muscle, tendon and bone injuries, children are also at risk of concussion and <a href="https://www.concussioninsport.gov.au/">clear guidelines now exist</a> to inform management of this condition. </p>
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<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/573660/original/file-20240206-17-prwobz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="young kids playing on soccer field" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/573660/original/file-20240206-17-prwobz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/573660/original/file-20240206-17-prwobz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/573660/original/file-20240206-17-prwobz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/573660/original/file-20240206-17-prwobz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/573660/original/file-20240206-17-prwobz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/573660/original/file-20240206-17-prwobz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/573660/original/file-20240206-17-prwobz.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
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<span class="caption">Young athletes sometimes train as hard as professionals – but with growing bones.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1598880513655-d1c6d4b2dfbf?q=80&w=2713&auto=format&fit=crop&ixlib=rb-4.0.3&ixid=M3wxMjA3fDB8MHxwaG90by1wYWdlfHx8fGVufDB8fHx8fA%3D%3D">Lars Bo Nielsen/Unsplash</a></span>
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<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/concussion-in-sport-why-making-players-sit-out-for-21-days-afterwards-is-a-good-idea-222504">Concussion in sport: why making players sit out for 21 days afterwards is a good idea</a>
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<p>With all that energy and commitment going into sport and play, it’s not surprising some kids hurt themselves. Here’s what to do next …</p>
<h2>5 ways to assess the severity of an injury</h2>
<p><strong>1. What does it look like?</strong> </p>
<p>Is there an obvious visual deformity or huge amount of swelling? Injuries with bigger changes in physical appearance will be much more severe. </p>
<p><strong>2. Can they move it?</strong> </p>
<p>If they are unable to bend a joint or they are “guarding” the area and refusing to move it, it is a sign of more severe injury. Sometimes fear will prevent a child from moving the injured area – it’s important not to try to force movement in the early stages, even if you think fear is an issue. </p>
<p><strong>3. Can you touch or press on the injured area?</strong> </p>
<p>Obviously, the more severe the injury the more likely your child will recoil with pain when being touched – or not let you anywhere near them.</p>
<p><strong>4. Can your child bear weight on the injured area</strong></p>
<p>For leg injuries this means can they stand or walk. For arm injuries can they use the arm to push up off the floor or out of a chair. More severe injuries prevent people from being able to bear weight. You should not try to force your child to stand or walk – but if you note them doing so, you can be more reassured the injury is less likely to be serious.</p>
<p><strong>5. Is the injury improving over time?</strong> </p>
<p>If the injury does not seem to be changing or getting better within 24 hours it may be a more severe injury, even if the previous pointers do not suggest it is. </p>
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<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/573663/original/file-20240206-25-l01akv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="medical professional assesses child's knee" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/573663/original/file-20240206-25-l01akv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/573663/original/file-20240206-25-l01akv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/573663/original/file-20240206-25-l01akv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/573663/original/file-20240206-25-l01akv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/573663/original/file-20240206-25-l01akv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/573663/original/file-20240206-25-l01akv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/573663/original/file-20240206-25-l01akv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
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<span class="caption">If pain or problems persist, get a medical check from a GP or physio.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/physiotherapist-working-patients-clinic-2301020583">Shutterstock</a></span>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/hot-pack-or-cold-pack-which-one-to-reach-for-when-youre-injured-or-in-pain-161086">Hot pack or cold pack: which one to reach for when you're injured or in pain</a>
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<h2>Now what? Top tips to manage injury</h2>
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<li><p><strong>Do the basics well.</strong> No matter how severe an injury may be – the <a href="https://sma.org.au/resources/injury-fact-sheets/soft-tissue-injuries/#:%7E:text=The%20immediate%20treatment%20of%20any,and%20damage%20within%20the%20joint">RICE protocol will be useful</a>. RICE stands for rest, ice (with a pack or cold water if no ice is available), compression (with a bandage or fitted fabric) and elevation (position the body so the injury is above the level of the heart)</p></li>
<li><p><strong>if your child has an obvious deformity</strong> of the bone, joint or muscle, seek medical attention as quickly as you can. The best thing to do is take them to an emergency department for assessment. They will likely need imaging (an X-ray or CT scan) to assess the bone and joint. Treatment should happen as soon as possible as injuries are often very painful and may need relocation or splinting</p></li>
<li><p><strong>if your child is struggling to move the injured area</strong>, you are unable to touch the sore spot or they cannot tolerate taking weight on the injured area, a review with your GP or physiotherapist as soon as possible is your best course of action</p></li>
<li><p><strong>if your child is not improving within 24 hours</strong>, but pain levels are not too high, an appointment with a GP or physiotherapist can still be a good idea. The injury may not be that severe, but if your child is needing to walk in an unusual way or not using their arm we want to get them back to normal as fast as possible</p></li>
<li><p><strong>talk to your child and see what they want to do.</strong> If the problem is lingering and they are worried about getting back to sport or play, an assessment by someone qualified (usually the GP or physio) can be very reassuring. </p></li>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/is-netball-actually-bad-for-knees-and-ankles-what-does-the-research-say-183619">Is netball actually bad for knees and ankles? What does the research say?</a>
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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/222141/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Myles Murphy receives funding from the Raine Medical Research Foundation, Western Australian Department of Health, Perth Wildcats, Western Australia Police Force, Defence Science Centre of Western Australia.</span></em></p>Accidents happen and kids get injured. But how can you tell if it needs an icepack, a physio or a trip to the emergency department?Myles Murphy, Postdoctoral research fellow, Physiotherapy, Edith Cowan UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/2225042024-02-02T04:10:55Z2024-02-02T04:10:55ZConcussion in sport: why making players sit out for 21 days afterwards is a good idea<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/572958/original/file-20240202-17-j9mn5z.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=7%2C0%2C4921%2C3288&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/sports-team-girl-soccer-kick-ball-2266046419">PeopleImages.com - Yuri A/Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) this week released <a href="https://www.sportaus.gov.au/media-centre/news/australia-unites-with-nz-and-uk-on-world-leading-concussion-guidelines-to-improve-safety-for-kids-in-sport">new guidelines</a> for youth and community sport designed to change the way concussion is managed across the country.</p>
<p>While the guidelines contain a host of recommendations about on-field concussion management and identifying symptoms, the biggest changes relate to how a concussion is managed after it happens.</p>
<p>Specifically, all players who sustain a concussion should be symptom-free for at least 14 days before restarting contact training. This was already the advice for children, but now applies to community sport too. And notably, all players should wait a minimum 21 days after being concussed to return to competition.</p>
<p>This is in contrast to the previous recommendations made by many Australian sporting organisations, which typically enforce a ten to 14 day minimum period before a concussed athlete can <a href="https://play.afl/learning-resource/concussion-management#article-0">return to competition</a>.</p>
<p>The new guidelines address a number of recommendations from last year’s <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Community_Affairs/Headtraumainsport/Report">Senate inquiry</a> into concussions and repeated head trauma in contact sports. So what’s the rationale for having people sit out for longer?</p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/concussion-risks-arent-limited-to-the-afl-we-need-urgent-action-to-make-sure-our-kids-are-safe-too-155638">Concussion risks aren't limited to the AFL. We need urgent action to make sure our kids are safe, too</a>
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<h2>The dangers of concussion</h2>
<p>Sport-related concussion has <a href="https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/57/11/695.long">been defined</a> as:</p>
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<p>a traumatic brain injury caused by a direct blow to the head, neck or body resulting in an impulsive force being transmitted to the brain that occurs in sports and exercise-related activities. </p>
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<p>Concussion in sport has become an increasingly hot topic in recent years – and for good reason. The effects of a concussion can include blood flow changes and <a href="https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/57/11/695.long">inflammation affecting the brain</a>. </p>
<p>In the short term, concussion can cause fatigue, light sensitivity and nausea, as well as more severe <a href="https://www.concussioninsport.gov.au/medical_practitioners/link_listing/signs_and_symptoms">symptoms</a> including behaviour change, loss of balance and coordination, and severe headaches. </p>
<p>There’s also some evidence to suggest repeated concussions can have long-term effects. These include lasting <a href="https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/neu.2022.0360">reductions in cognitive function</a> (how people think, make decisions, and process information), and in some instances, an <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/fullarticle/1212190">increased risk of dementia</a> in older adulthood.</p>
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<img alt="A girl with a bandage on her head is examined by a health-care professional." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/572963/original/file-20240202-17-7cr8wt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/572963/original/file-20240202-17-7cr8wt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=316&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/572963/original/file-20240202-17-7cr8wt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=316&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/572963/original/file-20240202-17-7cr8wt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=316&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/572963/original/file-20240202-17-7cr8wt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=398&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/572963/original/file-20240202-17-7cr8wt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=398&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/572963/original/file-20240202-17-7cr8wt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=398&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
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<span class="caption">Concussion can trigger a variety of symptoms.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/injured-woman-sitting-on-hospital-bed-1925221964">TommyStockProject/Shutterstock</a></span>
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<h2>Concussion in kids</h2>
<p>Children who have previously had a concussion are almost four times <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33077482/">more likely</a> to get concussed in the future than those who have never been concussed before.</p>
<p>Similarly, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1440244023000695">our research</a> has shown adolescent athletes who return from concussion are around 50% more likely to suffer any type of future injury than other athletes. My colleagues and I also found most athletes were returning to competition after roughly 12 days, which may suggest insufficient recovery is increasing their injury risk after concussion. </p>
<p>We don’t know the exact reason children and adolescents take longer to recover from concussion, but it seems they do.</p>
<p><a href="https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/57/12/798">Recent evidence</a> has indicated that children, on average, may not be fully recovered and able to return to sport until around 20 days after concussion, while <a href="https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/51/11/838.long">adults</a> may be recovered after closer to 14 days. However, this is not true for everyone, with some taking much <a href="https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(14)00781-1/fulltext">longer to recover</a>.</p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/new-study-highlights-the-brain-trauma-risks-for-young-athletes-212369">New study highlights the brain trauma risks for young athletes</a>
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<h2>A step in the right direction</h2>
<p>Taking these factors into consideration, I believe increasing the recovery period of concussion to 21 days is not only justified, but a positive step. While additional recovery time seems especially important for children, this change will also increase the likelihood adults playing community sport are ready to return, particularly if they don’t have access to medical guidance.</p>
<p>Most people in sport are happy to accept recovery from a muscle strain can take from four to eight weeks, so why wouldn’t they accept the brain (which is arguably a much more important part of the body) needs a shorter time?</p>
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<img alt="A boy is assessed by a health-care professional." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/572961/original/file-20240202-27-7cr8wt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/572961/original/file-20240202-27-7cr8wt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/572961/original/file-20240202-27-7cr8wt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/572961/original/file-20240202-27-7cr8wt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/572961/original/file-20240202-27-7cr8wt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/572961/original/file-20240202-27-7cr8wt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/572961/original/file-20240202-27-7cr8wt.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
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<span class="caption">Recovery after a concussion takes time.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/teenage-boy-doctor-have-consultation-hospital-317585822">Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock</a></span>
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<p>Australia is not the first country to tighten up its guidelines. </p>
<p>In April 2023, the first <a href="https://sramedia.s3.amazonaws.com/media/documents/9ced1e1a-5d3b-4871-9209-bff4b2575b46.pdf">concussion guidelines</a> for non-elite sport to cover the whole of the United Kingdom set out the same minimum recovery days.</p>
<p>Similar guidelines have also been implemented throughout <a href="https://www.nzrugby.co.nz/about-nzr/policies-regulations-and-rules/safety-and-welfare/concussion/">New Zealand</a> for a range of sports.</p>
<p>There’s no research examining whether these updated guidelines have had a positive effect yet, but given coming back too early may pose a risk, they offer very little downside.</p>
<h2>Implementing the guidelines</h2>
<p>While these guidelines are positive for the health and welfare of athletes across the nation, there are also potential issues with their implementation – especially at the grassroots level where there may be few on-site medical staff.</p>
<p>The good news is, you don’t have to be an expert to reduce the effects of concussion.</p>
<p>The first step for those involved in community sport is simply being aware of the concussion management protocols the AIS proposes. This means making sure club staff know what the symptoms of concussion look like, and when to encourage their players to see a medical professional.</p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/hit-your-head-while-playing-sport-heres-what-just-happened-to-your-brain-203038">Hit your head while playing sport? Here's what just happened to your brain</a>
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<p>The second step, as recommended by the updated guidelines, is to introduce a “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIU1a63gEmI">concussion officer</a>” to oversee the management of concussion. This person doesn’t need to be a concussion expert and is not expected to diagnose concussion. Like the role of a fire warden, the concussion officer ensures anyone diagnosed with concussion follows the agreed protocol.</p>
<p>Lastly, when it comes to young athletes, when in doubt, sit them out. A more conservative approach is always best.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/222504/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Hunter Bennett does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>New guidelines from the Australian Institute of Sport recommend players in youth and community sport are sidelined for three weeks after a concussion. Here’s why.Hunter Bennett, Lecturer in Exercise Science, University of South AustraliaLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1951152023-01-02T19:43:58Z2023-01-02T19:43:58ZWhat makes kids want to drop out of sport, and how should parents respond?<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/499915/original/file-20221209-25682-qh64s7.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=0%2C14%2C4933%2C3264&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>The new year often means a new season of kids’ sports. Many families may be pondering whether to commit to another season or discovering their child is now saying they’d like to quit their usual sport.</p>
<p>My husband and I faced this dilemma last year when our nine-year-old wanted to quit Nippers (junior surf lifesaving). This followed a season of high emotion, where we faced weekly “drop-off dread”, only to have him happily bounce over to us after training, full of smiles and stories.</p>
<p>Given the vast body of research showing the benefit of organised sport for children (more on that later), it’s not always easy for parents to instantly agree when their child wants to quit. </p>
<p>So what does the research tell us about why kids drop out of sport and how might parents respond?</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/499916/original/file-20221209-12402-z20tqm.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A girl cries at a sporting competition" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/499916/original/file-20221209-12402-z20tqm.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/499916/original/file-20221209-12402-z20tqm.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/499916/original/file-20221209-12402-z20tqm.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/499916/original/file-20221209-12402-z20tqm.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/499916/original/file-20221209-12402-z20tqm.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=502&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/499916/original/file-20221209-12402-z20tqm.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=502&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/499916/original/file-20221209-12402-z20tqm.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=502&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Competition can be stressful for some kids.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
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<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/is-netball-actually-bad-for-knees-and-ankles-what-does-the-research-say-183619">Is netball actually bad for knees and ankles? What does the research say?</a>
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<h2>Why do children drop out from sport?</h2>
<p>Participation rates in organised sport tend to peak towards the end of primary school, and there is <a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-016-0031-3">significant decline</a> in participation across adolescence.</p>
<p>Reasons for dropping out of a sport in adolescence <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/1356336X14555294">include</a> a focus on one sport over others or prioritising involvement in other activities (such as school work, jobs or socialising).</p>
<p>One of the major <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/1356336X14555294">factors</a> influencing children’s decision to quit sport is pressure from others (parents, coaches and peers).</p>
<figure class="align-right zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/499918/original/file-20221209-24867-qh64s7.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A girl stands on the field in a softball game." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/499918/original/file-20221209-24867-qh64s7.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/499918/original/file-20221209-24867-qh64s7.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=840&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/499918/original/file-20221209-24867-qh64s7.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=840&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/499918/original/file-20221209-24867-qh64s7.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=840&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/499918/original/file-20221209-24867-qh64s7.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1056&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/499918/original/file-20221209-24867-qh64s7.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1056&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/499918/original/file-20221209-24867-qh64s7.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1056&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Sport can build teamwork and resilience skills.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.pexels.com/photo/girl-holding-brown-leather-baseball-mitt-221227/">Photo by Pixabay</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Adult expectations, attitudes and behaviours can unintentionally sour children’s experiences of sport. This pressure can come in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/02701367.2011.10599807">many forms</a>, including unrealistically high expectations, a focus on winning, heated post-match debriefings, and critical comments.</p>
<p>Perceived pressure from adults relates to some of the main reasons children give for dropping out of sport: not having fun, being bored, or feeling they’re not good enough at it. </p>
<h2>What are the benefits of sport for children?</h2>
<p>When your child says they want to quit their sport, reflect on what’s at stake, and perhaps even discuss it with them.</p>
<p>As well as promoting health and fitness, organised sport <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119568124">builds</a> developmental skills and competencies in young people. </p>
<p>Many parents see critical <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/13573322.2016.1150834">life skills</a> – such as teamwork, resilience, dealing with frustration and disappointment, resolving conflicts and goal setting – as a major reason to enrol their children in sport. </p>
<p>Sport can also promote social connectedness for children and their families, contributing to a sense of <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/13573322.2021.1894114">belonging and social identity</a>. </p>
<p>Our research with parents of Australian junior rugby league players suggests this might be particularly the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/02614367.2022.2143875">case</a> for Indigenous parents.</p>
<p>This social connectedness from sport can promote children’s <a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/1479-5868-10-98">mental health</a>, helping protect against issues like anxiety and depression. </p>
<p>One longitudinal Australian study found children who drop out of sport between eight and ten years are at <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2014.05.006">greater risk</a> for social and emotional problems compared to those who continue in sport. </p>
<h2>What can parents do when a child wants to quit?</h2>
<p>There are no easy answers and the response will be shaped by factors unique to the child and their situation. But here are some strategies:</p>
<p><strong>1. Talk to your child</strong></p>
<p>Ask them what they don’t like about the sport. Is there anything that would need to change for them to continue? Would switching teams or dropping down a division make a difference? </p>
<p>You could try testing out the sport again, and agree to review things after a month.</p>
<p>Ask what they <em>do</em> like about the sport. This helps shift their thinking to what’s fun about it and what they might miss if they quit. </p>
<p>If your child can’t name anything they like, this might be the red flag you need that this sport isn’t for them.</p>
<p><strong>2. Reflect on your own behaviour.</strong></p>
<p>Think about your own hopes and expectations. Is it possible you’re putting too much pressure on your child? </p>
<p>Let your child know they can be open with you if they feel you’re pressuring them. You might need to work with your partner or other adults in the child’s life to come up with a plan to temper your expectations or behaviour around children’s sport.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/499919/original/file-20221209-23490-p3m533.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="A woman watches children play sport." src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/499919/original/file-20221209-23490-p3m533.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/499919/original/file-20221209-23490-p3m533.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/499919/original/file-20221209-23490-p3m533.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/499919/original/file-20221209-23490-p3m533.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/499919/original/file-20221209-23490-p3m533.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/499919/original/file-20221209-23490-p3m533.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/499919/original/file-20221209-23490-p3m533.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Is it possible you’re putting too much pressure on your child?</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p><strong>3. Consider other options.</strong></p>
<p>Every child is different. Some thrive on competition and performance, others find it anxiety-provoking and distressing. Others don’t much care if they win or lose.</p>
<p>Most children, though, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/1356336X14555294">enjoy</a> personal accomplishment and the opportunity sport provides to challenge themselves and improve skills.</p>
<p>So, if the old sport isn’t working out for your child, consider looking for something different. Many activities build fitness and a sense of accomplishment but don’t necessarily involve competition. </p>
<p>For example, our local gymnastic club runs “NinjaZone” classes that challenge children to use their strength and agility to complete obstacle courses. My nine-year-old loves it. </p>
<p>Kicking off a new sports season provides an opportunity to reflect on the past and on how you can help your child have a positive sporting experience. </p>
<p>After all, the long-term goal is for our children to build a lifelong enjoyment of physical activity so they can bring the physical health, mental health and social benefits into adulthood. </p>
<hr>
<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/the-kids-whod-get-the-most-out-of-extracurricular-activities-are-missing-out-heres-how-to-improve-access-169447">The kids who'd get the most out of extracurricular activities are missing out – here's how to improve access</a>
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<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/195115/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Cassy Dittman holds an Honorary Research Fellowship with the Parenting and Family Support Centre, which is partly funded by royalties stemming from published resources of the Triple P – Positive Parenting Program, which is developed and owned by The University of Queensland (UQ). Royalties are also distributed to the Faculty of Health and Behavioral Sciences at UQ and contributory authors of published Triple P resources. Triple P International (TPI) Pty Ltd is a private company licensed by UniQuest Pty Ltd on behalf of UQ, to publish and disseminate Triple P worldwide. Cassy Dittman has no share or ownership of TPI, however as an author on Triple P Programs, she receives royalties from TPI. Cassy Dittman has received research funding from the National Rugby League.</span></em></p>One longitudinal Australian study found children who drop out of sport between eight and ten years are at greater risk for social and emotional problems compared to those who continue in sport.Cassy Dittman, Lecturer/Head of Course (Undergraduate Psychology), CQUniversity AustraliaLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1674332021-09-13T06:06:32Z2021-09-13T06:06:32ZKids’ fitness is at risk while they miss sport and hobbies — but mums are getting more physical<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/420678/original/file-20210913-19-1bkm8or.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=61%2C69%2C5760%2C3758&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">
</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/school-building-schoolyard-evening-hopscotch-game-1928761976">Shutterstock</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>For most of our lives, the rhythms of our days are governed by crystallised routines: we get up, have breakfast, go to school or work, have lunch, dinner, watch TV, go to bed. For families, weekly routines often revolve around kids’ sport or active hobbies. </p>
<p>Then there are times in life when our routines are upended. Mostly these are life transitions like starting school or retiring. Less often, disruption stems from individual crises like sickness or job loss. Even rarer are social upheavals. The COVID pandemic is certainly one of those. </p>
<p>A number of surveys report changes in parents’ and kids’ physical activity and screen time during lockdowns. But what will this mean for their long term health and fitness? </p>
<h2>Kids’ activity down, screentime up</h2>
<p>According to the Royal Children’s Hospital’s <a href="https://www.rchpoll.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/nchp-poll18-report-covid.pdf">National Child Health Poll</a> last year 42% of parents said their kids had been less active, while only 13% said they had been more active. </p>
<p>The most recent report from <a href="https://growingupinaustralia.gov.au/">Growing Up in Australia: The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children</a> (LSAC) yielded similar results: 39% of kids said they had been less active, 29% more active. </p>
<p>An <a href="https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/975530/AusPlay-Focus-Early-Impact-of-COVID-19_Final.pdf">AUSPLAY survey</a> of 20,000 Australians over 15 found 44% of adolescents participated in fewer sports, compared to 31% being involved in more sports. In 2020, out-of-school sports participation at least once a week dropped nationally from 55% to 43% compared to 2019.</p>
<p>One good marker of how active kids are is how much time they spend outdoors. In the <a href="https://www.rchpoll.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/nchp-poll18-report-covid.pdf">National Child Health Poll</a> 42% of parents said their kids spent less time outdoors, compared to 14% who said they spent more time outdoors. Since outdoor time is often limited to one hour during lockdown, the more active kids likely had their time curtailed. </p>
<p>Unsurprisingly, screen time has rocketed. Over half of parents in the same survey said their kids were spending more time using screens and digital media, even when online learning was excluded. Only 5% said their kids were getting less.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/420686/original/file-20210913-17-pg4tr8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="boy bored on laptop" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/420686/original/file-20210913-17-pg4tr8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/420686/original/file-20210913-17-pg4tr8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/420686/original/file-20210913-17-pg4tr8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/420686/original/file-20210913-17-pg4tr8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/420686/original/file-20210913-17-pg4tr8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/420686/original/file-20210913-17-pg4tr8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/420686/original/file-20210913-17-pg4tr8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Kids are likely to be spending more time in front of screens during remote learning.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://unsplash.com/photos/SS-r7BvCqTY">Unsplash/Thomas Park</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Parents fared better, especially mums</h2>
<p>The story is quite different for <a href="https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/975530/AusPlay-Focus-Early-Impact-of-COVID-19_Final.pdf">parents</a>: 29% say they are getting more moderate physical exercise, slightly more than those who say they are getting less (24%). </p>
<p>The <a href="https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/975530/AusPlay-Focus-Early-Impact-of-COVID-19_Final.pdf">AUSPLAY surveys</a> show an increase in overall levels of physical activity in adults. But these increases are driven almost entirely by women, and mainly middle-aged women. Perhaps women in this age group <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/business/workplace/this-lockdown-women-are-once-again-doing-more-of-the-housework-home-schooling-20210727-p58d94.html">who have taken on more</a> of the housework and home-schooling burden are using the time they used to spend commuting to go outside for a walk, take a break and socialise. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/420677/original/file-20210913-20-tqr9r9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="woman running outdoors" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/420677/original/file-20210913-20-tqr9r9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/420677/original/file-20210913-20-tqr9r9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/420677/original/file-20210913-20-tqr9r9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/420677/original/file-20210913-20-tqr9r9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/420677/original/file-20210913-20-tqr9r9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/420677/original/file-20210913-20-tqr9r9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/420677/original/file-20210913-20-tqr9r9.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Middle-aged mums are reporting increases in physical activity during lockdown.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Unsplash/Alex McCarthy</span>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Under lockdown, some of the important venues for sports traditionally undertaken by men were closed, so team sports were down 40–50% and gym activities were down 36% (though some undertook workouts at home). Meanwhile, common forms of physical activity for women were up — jogging (up 40%), yoga and home exercises (up 39%), walking (up 33%) — as they remained feasible. </p>
<p>Some 58% of parents are doing <a href="https://www.rchpoll.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/nchp-poll18-report-covid.pdf">more exercise with their kids</a>. The 35–54 year-old age group increased this kind of participation by 19–23%.</p>
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<h2>Will it matter in the long term?</h2>
<p>Physical inactivity has a myriad of <a href="https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/apnm-2015-0663">negative health effects</a>, such as lower mood, poorer cognition and mental health, weaker bones and muscles and poorer cardiovascular fitness. </p>
<p>Over the long term, physical inactivity increases the chances of becoming overweight and of obesity. It increases the likelihood of <a href="https://journals.lww.com/acsm-msse/Fulltext/1999/11001/Effects_of_physical_inactivity_and_obesity_on.25.aspx">early onset</a> for chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, many cancers and mental illness. </p>
<p>If the lockdown trends for lessened physical activity are sustained, it’ll be bad news for our children’s health. The question is, once restrictions ease, will children’s activity levels return to normal?</p>
<p>Children get their physical activity in three main ways: play, active transport (walking, running, cycling and scooting to get somewhere) and sport. </p>
<p>Much of their play happens at school, so will presumably rebound once school’s back. But there have been decades-long <a href="https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/bjsports/39/12/892.full.pdf">declines</a> in children’s active transport (though such activities have enjoyed a renaissance during COVID while families stay within their local neighbourhood). </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/420683/original/file-20210913-13-1vzj1g6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="kids playing sport in schoolyard" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/420683/original/file-20210913-13-1vzj1g6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/420683/original/file-20210913-13-1vzj1g6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=367&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/420683/original/file-20210913-13-1vzj1g6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=367&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/420683/original/file-20210913-13-1vzj1g6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=367&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/420683/original/file-20210913-13-1vzj1g6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=461&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/420683/original/file-20210913-13-1vzj1g6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=461&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/420683/original/file-20210913-13-1vzj1g6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=461&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Both organised sport and schoolyard activity has been disrupted.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/cheerful-tween-schoolchildren-gaily-spending-time-1855240510">Shutterstock</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
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<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/from-vaccination-to-ventilation-5-ways-to-keep-kids-safe-from-covid-when-schools-reopen-166734">From vaccination to ventilation: 5 ways to keep kids safe from COVID when schools reopen</a>
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</em>
</p>
<hr>
<p>The long-term impact on sport is less clear. In June 2020, 32% of parents <a href="https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/975530/AusPlay-Focus-Early-Impact-of-COVID-19_Final.pdf">reported</a> concern about their kids going back to sport after the pandemic, due to ongoing fear of COVID infection. Furthermore, many families are reporting enjoyment of a <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/readers-find-silver-linings-to-life-in-lockdown-20200408-p54i4i.html">slower pace</a> of life under COVID with less rushing to sporting games, classes or practice. It is possible that COVID may speed up a <a href="https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/975530/AusPlay-Focus-Early-Impact-of-COVID-19_Final.pdf">decades-long shift</a> in participation for both adults and kids from organised group sports (such as football, basketball and surf lifesaving), to more informal and individual activities (such as cycling, running and surfing).</p>
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<p>
<em>
<strong>
Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/kids-grip-strength-is-improving-but-other-measures-of-muscle-fitness-are-getting-worse-164295">Kids' grip strength is improving, but other measures of muscle fitness are getting worse</a>
</strong>
</em>
</p>
<hr>
<h2>Wait and see</h2>
<p>As a society, it will be imperative that we closely observe trends in children’s (and adults’) activity, as these COVID trends have the potential to leave lasting scars with long-term health consequences. </p>
<p>Targeted efforts to address lockdown-related declines in physical activity may be needed. For now, there is cause for quiet optimism, with vaccination numbers growing, an easing of restrictions in sight, as well as the warmer, longer days of summer ahead.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/167433/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Tim Olds receives funding from the NHMRC and ARC. </span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Carol Maher receives funding from the NHMRC and the Medical Research Future Fund</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Verity Booth is a member of Exercise and Sports Science Australia</span></em></p>Studies have shown a drop in physical activity for kids during lockdowns, which could impact their long term health. But their mums are getting more active.Tim Olds, Professor of Health Sciences, University of South AustraliaCarol Maher, Professor, Medical Research Future Fund Emerging Leader, University of South AustraliaVerity Booth, PhD candidate, University of South AustraliaLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1316392020-03-15T11:41:06Z2020-03-15T11:41:06ZKeeping kids active despite the weather: Promoting outdoor activity all year round<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/319956/original/file-20200311-116232-nysm05.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=71%2C0%2C2923%2C2034&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Although colder weather is linked to lower levels of physical activity, changing seasons provide unique opportunities to be active.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>Given the climate in much of Canada, cold, wet or snowy conditions are inescapable for many months of the year. And like it or not, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1123/pes.22.1.81">weather and seasonality</a> are a barrier to Canadian children engaging in physical activity. Consequently, we need to find a way to help children (as well as parents and educators) embrace the outdoors and stay active all year round. </p>
<p>This is particularly important as kids are more active outdoors than indoor. Since children’s activity levels <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2007.04.009">vary with the seasons</a>, getting kids outside year-round is important for meeting movement guidelines.</p>
<h2>Physical activity in cold, wet months</h2>
<p><a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.3390%2Fijerph6102639">Snow and cold temperatures</a> are tied to low levels of physical activity. Parents have identified warmer seasons as more conducive to physical activity for their children and colder seasons as posing <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1007%2FBF03405170">greater challenges</a>. </p>
<p>What’s more, children’s social and built environments are not very accommodating of active living in the winter. When temperatures are low, social norms among Canadians encourage staying indoors participating in more sedentary behaviours, like watching movies, streaming shows, playing video games, reading books or doing crafts. Likewise, extremely hot and humid days also have the tendency to drive kids indoors. </p>
<p>Many of the environments in which children spend the majority of their waking hours during the week (schools and childcare) often have strict <a href="https://globalnews.ca/news/5027337/indoor-recess-canada-winter/">policies prohibiting outdoor play when temperatures drop below a particular level</a>. Even when kids can get outside, there are <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.2105%2FAJPH.2013.301319">many safety regulations</a> these settings must abide by (such as prohibiting some outdoor equipment, splashing in puddles, and making snow hills off limits), which hamper children’s innate desire to move their bodies outdoors.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/319437/original/file-20200309-118956-ncmtj6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=57%2C50%2C4718%2C3128&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/319437/original/file-20200309-118956-ncmtj6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/319437/original/file-20200309-118956-ncmtj6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/319437/original/file-20200309-118956-ncmtj6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/319437/original/file-20200309-118956-ncmtj6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/319437/original/file-20200309-118956-ncmtj6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/319437/original/file-20200309-118956-ncmtj6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Physical activity is an important part of children’s healthy development.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">AP Photo/Knoxville News Sentinel, Saul Young</span></span>
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</figure>
<p>Fortunately, changing seasons also present unique opportunities to be active, try different activities and improve healthy behaviours. Different settings — including water, ice, and snow — provide opportunities to develop or enhance new skills, like balance, co-ordination, agility, lifting and lowering, running, crawling, throwing and hopping. </p>
<h2>How to help kids stay active all year long</h2>
<p>Based on current research, there are numerous <a href="https://www.cps.ca/en/documents/position/physical-activity-guidelines#TABLE%202">evidence-informed recommendations</a> that can be drawn upon to help <a href="https://csepguidelines.ca/children-and-youth-5-17/">support, encourage, and promote increased activity levels</a> among children.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/319996/original/file-20200311-116270-8f75yl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/319996/original/file-20200311-116270-8f75yl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=401&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/319996/original/file-20200311-116270-8f75yl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=401&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/319996/original/file-20200311-116270-8f75yl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=401&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/319996/original/file-20200311-116270-8f75yl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=504&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/319996/original/file-20200311-116270-8f75yl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=504&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/319996/original/file-20200311-116270-8f75yl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=504&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Children enjoy themselves on a playground at Wasaho Cree Nation School in Fort Severn, Ontario’s most northerly community, in this April 2018 photo.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">THE CANADIAN PRESS/Colin Perkel</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p><strong>Keep it fun and positive</strong>. Children have different interests and enthusiasms, so it is important to suggest and enable activities that your child will enjoy. This may involve some trial and error: you might make mistakes and you might find different children in your home enjoy different activities. </p>
<p><strong>Stick to a routine</strong>. Find the times for activity that work best for your family and stick with them. In certain cases, you may need to get creative and consider new ways to get active if it’s not possible to play outside (heat or cold weather advisories). Also be mindful that it gets dark early during the winter months. </p>
<p><strong>Make it a family affair</strong>. Physical activity should be valued by the whole family and maintained as a priority. Getting everyone involved (including the family dog!) provides key opportunities to model healthy behaviours and provide positive behavioural prompts. Bonus: physical activities are a great way to spend time and bond as a family.</p>
<p><strong>Break it up</strong>. Kids do not need to accumulate the <a href="https://csepguidelines.ca/children-and-youth-5-17/">recommended 60 minutes of daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity</a> in a single bout. It is OK to break it up and still reap the health benefits. Every little bit helps! </p>
<p><strong>Dress to impress</strong>. Wear layers (this will help children regulate their body temperature) made of breathable materials that repel water, and wear gloves, hats and warm boots when frostbite is a risk. From a health and safety perspective, wear reflective gear (to be seen at night), wear sunscreen and sunglasses (UVA/UVB rays are present, and water and snow-covered surfaces reflect the sun), and remember that helmets are as essential for tobogganing, skiing, and skating as they are for cycling, skateboarding, and rollerblading.</p>
<h2>Need some ideas to get your kids moving?</h2>
<p>There are plenty of options to keep children moving in any season, many of which can be done in groups, with the family, or even solo. </p>
<p>When the opportunity arises to get kids outdoors, consider some of the following activities: play tag, go for walks, rake leaves, swim in a pool or lake, go cycling or wheeling with friends. </p>
<p>In colder weather, build a snowman/snow angel, go tobogganing, have a snowball fight, go skiing (cross-country or downhill), try snowshoeing, go skating, help with snow shovelling, build a snow fort or try snow painting.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/319441/original/file-20200309-167285-1uierrb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/319441/original/file-20200309-167285-1uierrb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=444&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/319441/original/file-20200309-167285-1uierrb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=444&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/319441/original/file-20200309-167285-1uierrb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=444&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/319441/original/file-20200309-167285-1uierrb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=558&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/319441/original/file-20200309-167285-1uierrb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=558&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/319441/original/file-20200309-167285-1uierrb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=558&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
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<span class="caption">Keep sunscreen and helmets handy for tobogganing, skiing or skating, as well as for biking, skateboarding and rollerblading.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang</span></span>
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</figure>
<p>And in those instances when it’s not safe to be outdoors, don’t let this deter children from moving their bodies. Either take the fun indoors or just venture outside for a short time — <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.3390%2Fijerph120606475">kids need the fresh air for a brain break and to expend energy</a>. </p>
<p>Some indoor activities include: have a dance party, play hide and seek, help with household chores, do yoga, participate in an indoor scavenger hunt or obstacle course. If you don’t have a ton of space indoors, venture to a community recreation centre or sports facility. </p>
<p>Check your local recreation centre for classes and activities, or your YMCA, indoor pool, ice rink or gym. Try ice skating or roller skating, go bowling or take a long walk inside the local mall.</p>
<p>Physical activity is an important part of children’s healthy development — ensuring this need is met in every season is equally important!</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/131639/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Leigh Vanderloo is affiliated with ParticipACTION. </span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Trish Tucker receives funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. </span></em></p>Keeping kids active in winter can be a challenge, as cold temperatures and icy conditions often mean more time indoors. Here’s how to maintain a healthy activity level throughout Canadian winters.Leigh Vanderloo, Adjunct Professor, Child Health and Physical Activity Lab, School of Occupational Therapy, Western UniversityTrish Tucker, Associate Professor and Director of the Child Health and Physical Activity Lab, Western UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/1230042019-09-15T20:16:56Z2019-09-15T20:16:56ZBushwalking and bowls in schools: we need to teach kids activities they’ll go on to enjoy<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/292359/original/file-20190913-35584-zzrqg2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=802%2C401%2C4300%2C2850&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Schools could use bushwalking as an activity and link it to lessons in other subjects such as geography and science.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Shutterstock/Monkey Business Images</span></span></figcaption></figure><p>Physical education is <a href="https://www.childresearch.net/data/international/international_2007_01.html">one of the most popular subjects</a> for children in their early school years. Yet by secondary school <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28661718" title="Three-Year Study of Students' Attitudes Toward Physical Education: Grades 4-8">less</a> favourable attitudes towards what’s known in the Australian school curriculum as Health and Physical Education (<a href="https://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/f-10-curriculum/health-and-physical-education/">HPE</a>) can start to creep in.</p>
<p>By adulthood, the mention of HPE brings on both pleasant (for those who enjoyed HPE at school or completed HPE activities well) and unpleasant <a href="https://journals.lww.com/acsm-tj/Fulltext/2018/08150/_My_Best_Memory_Is_When_I_Was_Done_with_It____PE.1.aspx" title="'My Best Memory Is When I Was Done with It' PE Memories Are Associated with Adult Sedentary Behavior">memories</a> (those who suffered embarrassment, bullying or injuries). </p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/teenagers-who-play-sport-after-school-are-only-7-minutes-more-active-per-day-than-those-who-dont-120756">Teenagers who play sport after school are only 7 minutes more active per day than those who don't</a>
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<p>These attitudes towards HPE are important as early life experiences can be <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25269062" title="Supporting public health priorities: recommendations for physical education and physical activity promotion in schools">linked</a> to our health later on. Adults with positive memories of HPE are more likely to be physically active throughout their lives.</p>
<p>That’s why we need to get students hooked on a range of activities they don’t give up on and can enjoy doing for many years after they leave school.</p>
<h2>Exercise for our health</h2>
<p>One of the major focuses of any HPE program in schools is to develop movement skills and physical activity in young people. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) <a href="https://en.unesco.org/inclusivepolicylab/sites/default/files/learning/document/2017/1/231101E.pdf">says</a> physical activity is vital to improve mental, social and physical health, as well as preventing diseases such as obesity, cancer, diabetes and heart disease. </p>
<p>Lifestyle diseases are likely to be an increasing problem in Australia due to the <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/older-people/older-australia-at-a-glance/contents/demographics-of-older-australians/australia-s-changing-age-and-gender-profile">projected increase</a> in the percentage of the population aged 65 years and over.</p>
<p>For this reason, a high-quality HPE program early on at school that provides opportunities for students to experience a range of activities they can engage in later in life is important.</p>
<p>This can prepare students for the skills needed for lifelong engagement in physical activity and to lead active and healthy lives. </p>
<h2>Our activities change as we age</h2>
<p>The activities with the <a href="https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/research/smi/ausplay">highest participation</a> by Australians of different age groups are shown in the table below. These findings show some obvious differences between age groups.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/292518/original/file-20190916-8693-1vw0m2d.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/292518/original/file-20190916-8693-1vw0m2d.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/292518/original/file-20190916-8693-1vw0m2d.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=442&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/292518/original/file-20190916-8693-1vw0m2d.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=442&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/292518/original/file-20190916-8693-1vw0m2d.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=442&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/292518/original/file-20190916-8693-1vw0m2d.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=556&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/292518/original/file-20190916-8693-1vw0m2d.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=556&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/292518/original/file-20190916-8693-1vw0m2d.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=556&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
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<span class="caption">The Conversation/Authors.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/research/smi/ausplay/results/sport">Clearinghouse for Sport</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/">CC BY-ND</a></span>
</figcaption>
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<p>School-aged students participate in more team-based activities. Often these involve physical contact and/or require speed and agility. Participation rates in these activities decrease substantially after the age of 35.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/292361/original/file-20190913-35596-1adfr8j.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/292361/original/file-20190913-35596-1adfr8j.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/292361/original/file-20190913-35596-1adfr8j.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/292361/original/file-20190913-35596-1adfr8j.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/292361/original/file-20190913-35596-1adfr8j.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/292361/original/file-20190913-35596-1adfr8j.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/292361/original/file-20190913-35596-1adfr8j.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/292361/original/file-20190913-35596-1adfr8j.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Playing soccer is popular among the 5 to 11 age group, but participation falls as people get older.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ngarkat/2556928877/">Flickr/</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/">CC BY-NC-ND</a></span>
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<p>Australians aged 65 and over mainly participate in less intense aerobic activities. Seven of the top 10 (walking, golf, cycling, bowls, yoga, bush walking and pilates) activities for the 65-plus age group do not even make the top 10 for school-aged Australians.</p>
<p>Giving students increased access to these activities might assist schools in meeting UNESCO’s <a href="https://en.unesco.org/inclusivepolicylab/sites/default/files/learning/document/2017/1/231101E.pdf">challenge</a> to help young people develop lifelong participation in physical activity.</p>
<h2>Teach them healthy habits when they’re young</h2>
<p>Some school HPE and outdoor education programs are likely to include a few of these activities listed for the adult age groups. </p>
<p>But the crowded curriculum and specific HPE time allocations can be a problem. Teachers often don’t have time to cover these activities in enough detail to really hook students in. That means students don’t get to the point where they want to make these activities a permanent part of their movement tool kit. </p>
<p>Busy schools should consider integrating aerobic activities into other subject areas. For example, an excursion to a local park or reserve for bushwalking or orienteering could be linked with geography and science. It could also help inspire writing tasks in English or measurement tasks in maths. </p>
<p>Teachers could be encouraged to use class breaks for short yoga sessions. Yoga and pilates could be offered at lunchtime, either with a teacher, posters and signs, or via <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/fitness-exercise/top-yoga-iphone-android-apps">an app</a> projected on a screen. </p>
<p>Doing a web search for your location and activities (for example, “golf/bowls/bushwalking clubs near me”) will help schools find nearby clubs to connect students with. Schools could invite club staff or volunteers to come to talk to the students and run practical sessions.</p>
<p>Being aware of local recreational clubs and organisations and the opportunities they provide (such as <a href="https://sportscommunity.com.au/fundraising/events-functions-and-fundraising-activities/barefoot-bowls/">barefoot bowls nights</a>), as well as websites where they can get more information (<a href="http://www.trailhiking.com.au/">bushwalking trails</a>), will make it easier for students to engage with these activities. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/292358/original/file-20190913-35634-j5kvio.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/292358/original/file-20190913-35634-j5kvio.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/292358/original/file-20190913-35634-j5kvio.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=300&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/292358/original/file-20190913-35634-j5kvio.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=300&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/292358/original/file-20190913-35634-j5kvio.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=300&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/292358/original/file-20190913-35634-j5kvio.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=377&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/292358/original/file-20190913-35634-j5kvio.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=377&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/292358/original/file-20190913-35634-j5kvio.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=377&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
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<span class="caption">Barefoot bowls appeals to many different age groups.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Flickr/Josh McGuiness</span>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/">CC BY-NC-ND</a></span>
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<h2>Engaged students are active and healthy for life</h2>
<p>So we need to make sure students are provided with enough <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4541109/" title="Students’ Perceptions of Motivational Climate and Enjoyment in Finnish Physical Education: A Latent Profile Analysis">choice</a> in activities.</p>
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Read more:
<a href="https://theconversation.com/our-sporting-nation-is-a-myth-so-how-do-we-get-youngsters-back-on-the-field-78186">Our 'sporting nation' is a myth, so how do we get youngsters back on the field?</a>
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<p>Improved choice for students within HPE programs allows them to discover activities that provide appropriate levels of challenge for them to be able to overcome and achieve for overall enjoyment.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3607380/" title="The Effect of Physical Education Climates on Elementary Students’ Physical Activity Behaviors">Evidence</a> suggests that providing such a mastery climate in school HPE and junior sport can help students feel high levels of competence in their physical abilities. This then assists with students’ individual motivations to be physically active.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/292374/original/file-20190913-35596-1j90uvc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/292374/original/file-20190913-35596-1j90uvc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/292374/original/file-20190913-35596-1j90uvc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/292374/original/file-20190913-35596-1j90uvc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/292374/original/file-20190913-35596-1j90uvc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/292374/original/file-20190913-35596-1j90uvc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/292374/original/file-20190913-35596-1j90uvc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/292374/original/file-20190913-35596-1j90uvc.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
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<span class="caption">Teach children to enjoy yoga at an early age and it will stay with them as they age.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mikebull/3241322719/">Flickr/Mike Bull</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/">CC BY-NC</a></span>
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</figure><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/123004/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>We need to keep active and exercise to stay healthy. So why not teach school kids some of the activities they’d go on to enjoy later in life?Vaughan Cruickshank, Program Director – Health and Physical Education, Maths/Science, Faculty of Education, University of TasmaniaBrendon Hyndman, Senior Lecturer & Course Director of Postgraduate Studies in Education, Charles Sturt UniversityShane Pill, Associate Professor in Physical Education and Sport, Flinders UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/781862017-06-06T19:21:56Z2017-06-06T19:21:56ZOur ‘sporting nation’ is a myth, so how do we get youngsters back on the field?<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/171965/original/file-20170602-25700-1e6r1fb.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Neglected and sub-par facilities are one of many barriers to youth participation in sport.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/tupwanders/4090730864/">tup wanders</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>Sport is seen as a key part of Australia’s identity. Yet woefully rundown facilities and outdated sport offerings are creating significant barriers to youth participation. </p>
<p>In partnership with the <a href="http://yourlocalclub.com.au/who-we-are/our-stories/">Cooks River Sporting Alliance</a>, Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL Club, and 12 public and private schools from Sydney’s inner west, we’ll be working with youth to co-design an innovative program to reverse the decline in youth participation in sport. </p>
<p>Our program, Designing in Youth, will feature new sport offerings, advertising materials and redesigned facilities. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3315587/">Research</a> shows that environmental design works best when it considers multiple factors. Thus, the first phase of our project is a survey to identify psychological and social barriers alongside environmental drivers of youth sport participation. </p>
<h2>Barriers to participation</h2>
<p>Australia’s sporting landscape offers more barriers than motivations for youth, and the effects are obvious. The World Health Organisation recommends 60 minutes of physical activity every day. In Australia, only <a href="http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/content/health-pubhlth-strateg-active-evidence.htm">one in ten</a> young adults do this. </p>
<p>Despite many programs to increase youth physical activity and sport participation, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18091006">results have been inconsistent</a>. Perhaps these programs’ failure to have a <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3871410/">lasting impact</a> on young people’s exercise habits is due to their <a href="http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/107/6/1459">highly structured</a> nature and <a href="http://docslide.net/documents/in-focuspositive-coaching-youth-sports-hold-a-lesson-for-leaders.html">lack of youth leadership</a>.</p>
<p><a href="http://docslide.net/documents/in-focuspositive-coaching-youth-sports-hold-a-lesson-for-leaders.html">Youth report</a> their reasons for playing sport include enjoyment, development of physical and motor skills, self-esteem and peer interaction, among other factors. We hypothesise that better interventions emphasise the fun factor and involve peer-led, unstructured play. This should produce long-lasting improvements in attitudes to physical activity. </p>
<p>Most organised sports promote practice and winning over play, are primarily coach-led and do not encourage the development of physical and motor skills. These <a href="http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1356336X14555294">factors are barriers</a> to youth sport participation. </p>
<p>This is partly due to poorly designed facilities. Few facilities promote both social and competitive participation, focus on peer leadership, or offer a wide variety of sporting activities in one place. </p>
<h2>Neglect of grassroots sport</h2>
<p>In New South Wales, the divide between elite and grassroots sport is huge. Most youth participation is in grassroots sport, but the funding <a href="http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/BN/2012-2013/SportFunding#_Toc360096410">mostly goes into elite clubs</a>. </p>
<p>Sports fields for grassroots clubs are commonly placed as afterthoughts, typically on leftover land. In NSW, this can be seen along Cooks River in the suburbs of Hurlstone Park and Canterbury. Here, sporting events and practices are regularly cancelled due to flooding.</p>
<p>To make things worse, many fields are not designed for sport and poorly maintained. The uneven, pitted surfaces are bad for play.</p>
<p>At these fields, bathroom blocks are rare, dirty and often falling apart. There are usually no changing rooms or showers. Many fields have few, if any, benches to sit on, and no access to food and drink vendors. </p>
<p>In addition, facilities are usually designed for one sport only. This leaves parents or siblings with nothing else to do while they wait.</p>
<p>In other countries, such as the Netherlands, facilities for local sport clubs <a href="http://www.cladglobal.com/CLADnews/architecture-design/Feyenoord-football-stadium-design-architecture-OMA-David-Gianotten-Eredivise-Netherlands-regeneration/326277?source=news">function as community centres</a>. Their fields are designed for various sporting activities and have playgrounds and hospitality centres nearby. </p>
<h2>Why does participation matter?</h2>
<p>The decline in sport participation may be a factor in the rise of poor mental health. Despite decreases in substance abuse such as smoking and binge drinking, rates of self-harm, depression, anxiety and suicide are <a href="http://www.health.gov.au/internet/ministers/publishing.nsf/Content/health-mediarel-yr2015-ley096.htm">on the rise</a> among Australian youth. </p>
<p><a href="http://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/factsheet_young_people/en/">Many studies</a> have found habitual sport activities are an effective way to improve mental health. Other health benefits include reductions in obesity and blood pressure. The 2010 report, <a href="https://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/aust_sport_path/%24file/aust_sport_path.pdf">Australian Sport: Pathway to Success</a>, recognised boosting youth participation in sport and supporting grassroots clubs as important for improving both population health and national sporting success. </p>
<p>Despite all this evidence of many benefits, studies have charted a <a href="http://www.who.int/whr/2002/en/">steady global decline in sport participation</a> between the ages of 11 and 16. Participation is particularly low among <a href="http://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1108/09654280010343555">older girls</a>. </p>
<p>Past studies have <a href="http://www.who.int/whr/2002/en/">identified some barriers</a> to participation. These include <a href="http://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1108/09654280010343555">reduced parental influence</a> on choice of activity, boredom with the available sports, and <a href="http://www.sportandrecreationspatial.com.au/resources/2014%20JSAMS%20Transition3..pdf">time challenges</a> created by increased academic workload.</p>
<p>Other possible barriers such as poorly designed and maintained public parks have not been well studied. It’s probable that the poor condition of facilities and the lack of variety in sports and other non-sporting amenities on offer also discourage participation.</p>
<h2>A new approach to involving youth</h2>
<p>If we’re to increase youth participation, we need to include their opinions in the redesign process to ensure being involved in sport appeals to them.</p>
<p>Most programs worldwide have focused only on promoting an overall increase in physical activity. But regular and vigorous sports participation has greater long-term benefits, including improvements in <a href="https://www.dsr.wa.gov.au/docs/default-source/file-support-and-advice/file-research-and-policies/brain-boost-how-sport-and-physical-activity-enhance-children%27s-learning.pdf?sfvrsn=4">children’s learning</a>. </p>
<p>We hope Designing in Youth will help create a whole new landscape for sport in Sydney’s inner west. If successful, our communities and our use of public outdoor space will change for the better. </p>
<p>We should see youth outside again. And maybe, just maybe, we will restore our status as a sporting nation.</p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/78186/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Deborah Ascher Barnstone receives funding from Canterbury Hurlstone Park RSL. </span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Fiona Brooks receives funding from Hurlstone Park and Canterbury RSL
</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Job Fransen receives funding from Hurlstone Park/Canterbury RSL</span></em></p>The first step in reviving a lost sporting culture is to involve young Australians in working out why sport has lost its appeal and how to reverse the decline in youth participation.Deborah Ascher Barnstone, Professor, Associate Head of School, School of Architecture, University of Technology SydneyFiona Brooks, Professor of Public Health, Associate Dean Research, University of Technology SydneyJob Fransen, Lecturer in Skill Acquisition and Motor Control, University of Technology SydneyLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/615052016-07-12T19:44:49Z2016-07-12T19:44:49ZUnhealthy sport sponsorship continues to target kids<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/129642/original/image-20160707-30718-ro19st.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">New research has found eight out of nine food and beverage sponsors of kids sport are bad for you. </span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/69582358@N06/14319680256/">Flickr/#sung-min</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA</a></span></figcaption></figure><p>In the final month of the countdown to the Olympic Games, our sports stars are probably not eating and drinking the Games sponsors’ foods. Again, <a href="https://theconversation.com/olympics-sponsorship-supporting-sport-or-funding-fat-8054">as in previous Olympics</a>, the Olympic Games sponsors are Coca-Cola, McDonald’s and Cadburys, whose foods and drinks are not good choices for athletes due to their lack of nutrition and high levels of salt, sugar and saturated fats.</p>
<p>Unhealthy sponsorship of sport filters all the way down through sport from the elite level to Saturday morning kids’ clubs.</p>
<p><a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1753-6405.12541/abstract">New research</a> released by Cancer Council NSW has revealed eight out of nine food and beverage sponsors of children’s sports development programs in Australia are classified as unhealthy. Brands including McDonald’s, Schweppes, Gatorade and Nutrigrain are all competing for brand exposure in kids’ sport. </p>
<p>Junior development programs are modified versions of popular adult sports, designed to increase children’s participation in sports and encourage more children to be active. Beyond just providing physical activity, these programs should promote healthy behaviours, instead of undermining the healthy lifestyle the programs aim to promote.</p>
<p>Besides logo placement on website homepages, we found sponsorship gave companies naming rights to the development program (such as Nippy’s Spikezone – Nippy’s is a brand of flavoured beverages and Spikezone is kids’ volleyball), branded participant packs (such as Milo in2cricket and McDonald’s for Platypus Lagoon swimming) and branded equipment (McDonald’s for junior cricket and basketball).</p>
<p>While the study was done in 2015, this year the sponsorship landscape for children’s sports looks just as unhealthy. At the time of the study McDonald’s was sponsoring three separate junior sports programs across the country. </p>
<p>In 2016, while no longer a sponsor of Little Athletics nationally, <a href="https://mcdonalds.com.au/learn/responsibility/maccas-community">McDonald’s</a> is still involved in Little Athletics across five states, provides branded sports equipment to <a href="https://mcdonalds.com.au/maccas-on-your-team">junior basketball and cricket</a>, provides participant packs and sponsors swimming in Queensland and is a naming rights partner for the South Australian National Football League junior development program. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/129643/original/image-20160707-30705-1e7v052.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/129643/original/image-20160707-30705-1e7v052.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/129643/original/image-20160707-30705-1e7v052.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/129643/original/image-20160707-30705-1e7v052.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/129643/original/image-20160707-30705-1e7v052.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/129643/original/image-20160707-30705-1e7v052.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/129643/original/image-20160707-30705-1e7v052.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/129643/original/image-20160707-30705-1e7v052.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Sponsorship doesn’t just mean a logo on the website, but naming rights and equipment.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/johnwardell/164993088/">John Wardle/Flickr</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span>
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<p>Schweppes, Gatorade and a local confectionery company are among state Little Athletics sponsors. Surf-lifesaving sponsors include Schweppes and Nutrigrain.</p>
<p>Our study follows on from a <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26149255">2015 study</a> that looked at sponsors on websites of state and national adult sports and found 10% of sponsors on adult sports sites were unhealthy. The 2015 study found only 14 of 53 different sports organisations in Australia didn’t have “unhealthy” sponsors.</p>
<h2>The influence of advertising on children</h2>
<p>Children are a major target market for advertising, as they influence their parents’ spending, have their own independent spending habits and have the potential to become brand-loyal and life-long customers. </p>
<p>Sponsorship of development programs offers companies another avenue to expose children to their brand and foster a connection between children and their brand.</p>
<p>An <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23308400">Australian study</a> of five- to 12-year-olds found they associated team sports with the products and messages promoted via the sports’ sponsors. </p>
<p>Sponsorship and branding within sports can influence product recall and enhance children’s attitudes towards that sponsor. <a href="https://ijbnpa.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1479-5868-8-95">Interviews of 10- to 14-year-olds</a> found they think of food and drink companies that sponsor their club and favourite team as “cool”. They even said they’d like to return the favour to these sponsors by buying their products.</p>
<h2>Reducing the impact of unhealthy food marketing on children</h2>
<p>In recent years we have seen the closure of the <a href="http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd1314a/14bd086">National Preventive Health Agency</a>. The agency was set up to drive preventive health policy and programs focusing on obesity, tobacco and harmful alcohol consumption. </p>
<p>One consequence has been the withdrawal of funding to sporting organisations that allowed them to have alcohol-free sponsorship. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/aug/14/surfing-australia-turns-to-lion-lager-after-anti-alcohol-ad-funding-dries-up">Some reports</a> suggest these funding cuts have pushed sports to rely again on alcohol sponsorship in the absence of other public funding. </p>
<p>The good news is many sponsors of children’s sports development programs are not food or drink sponsors. It is encouraging that only 11 out of 246 sponsors were food, drink, alcohol or gambling companies. This indicates that many sports are able to seek alternative sponsors. Other major sponsors of kids’ sports development programs included airlines and banks. </p>
<p>The World Health Organisation <a href="http://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/marketing-food-to-children/en/">has made recommendations</a> to reduce children’s exposure to and the power of marketing of foods high in fat, added sugars or salt, including marketing in children’s settings. </p>
<p>Currently, there is no Australian regulation that limits or restricts the type of companies allowed to sponsor children’s sport. Sponsorship of children’s sport should be included in food marketing regulation to reduce the impact unhealthy food marketing has on children. </p>
<p>In the absence of regulation, these companies should exercise responsible marketing practices and withdraw from sports sponsorship so sports consistently promotes healthy messages to those participating and watching. </p>
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<p><em>Wendy Watson, Senior Nutrition Project Officer, Cancer Council NSW, and Clare Hughes, Nutrition Program Manager, Cancer Council NSW, contributed to this article.</em></p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/61505/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Kathy Chapman has received grant funding from Cancer Institute NSW and Ministry of Health and is Director of Cancer Programs at the Cancer Council NSW.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Bridget Kelly receives funding from the Australian Research Council and Cancer Council NSW. </span></em></p>Unhealthy sponsorship of sport filters all the way down from the elite level through to Saturday morning kids’ clubs.Kathy Chapman, PhD candidate in Nutrition and Dietetics, University of SydneyBridget Kelly, Senior Lecturer in Public Health Nutrition, University of WollongongLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.